Evaluation of bioremediation effectiveness on sediments Contaminated with industrial wastes

Abstract

A treatability study was conducted to determine the most effective bioremediation strategies for the decontamination of sediments dredged from industrially polluted Gandigudem Lake. Microcosm experiments were performed with the addition of a microbial consortium and nutrients. The performance of each treatment was examined by monitoring biological parameters such as basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), metabolic quotient (qCO2), Cmic/TOC ratio, dehydrogenase activity, and phytotoxicity. Results of the study suggest that the addition of nutrients to the contaminated sediments accelerated bioremediation and the application of an enriched native microbial consortium in concentration greater than the indigenous microbial population further increased the bioremediation efficiency. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of combining bioassays with chemical monitoring for evaluation of bioremediation effectiveness and assessment of the de­contaminated/ stabilized sediments.